Kia’s recently unveiled EV9 made a big splash during its global debut in March, with standout features such as second-row captain’s chairs that swivel 180 degrees, allowing passengers to face each other. However, as the EV9 made its way to the New York Auto Show, eagle-eyed journalists noticed that the swiveling seats were missing from the US version. According to a spokesperson from Kia, the swivel seats are not part of the plan for the US launch, along with several other features that were mentioned in the global release.
The loss of the swiveling seats is a disappointment for American consumers who were excited about the unique feature. However, the EV9 will still offer luxurious second-row seats with power adjustability, heating, ventilation, and thigh support extensions. The third row of the EV9 will seat two passengers, resulting in a 2+3+2 configuration for base models with a three-seat bench and a 2+2+2 configuration for models with captain’s chairs.
While Kia has not yet released output figures for North America, the single electric motor powering the rear wheels in the long-range model with the 99.8 kWh battery is rated at 201 HP in the international version, compared to 215 HP for the standard range model with the 76.1 kWh battery. Kia has promised to share more details about powertrain configurations as the launch nears.
Kia’s decision to exclude the swivel seats from the US launch of the EV9 is likely due to concerns about demand and cost. While the seats would have been a unique selling point, they may not have justified the additional expense for a feature that may not be widely used. Regardless, the EV9 still offers plenty of impressive features that make it a strong contender in the growing electric vehicle market.
